The less?confident photographer is often hesitant to join a Camera club, assuming that all members are highly technical and experienced. This is far from true; yes, several members of Swavesey Camera Club fit that description but for many of our members the main motivation for joining has been the desire to learn more skills. They have found that our more?qualified photographers are extremely willing to share their knowledge and give generous support.

The Club encourages our so?called beginners to exhibit their work. Recently we have had three competitions, two being specifically aimed at those reluctant to enter the more formal main Club competitions. As so often happens first?timers were very successful and scored highly against the work of long?standing members. Those whose work was marked down were given a reasoned explanation by the judge; even if one didn't agree it does help to assess one's work.

This might make being in a Camera club sound like a lot of hard work but far from it. On other evenings we have just sat back and been entertained. Jane Morwood described how she had used photographs of he own family to illustrate two rather strange books, David Mason showed us Wildlife and People of North America, James Austin of Wyging Arts told us of his life with the Courtalls Institute and the Sainsbury Collection and Phil Chatfield showed us his love of Thames barges with some very fine photographs of sailing on the East coast.

The New Year promises something for everyone, so remember, it is possible to join at any time of year.

Mo Hadfield

SWAVESEY CAMERA CLUB

Over District Guides

We need more leaders and assistants in order to maintain
and expand our activities in Over & Swavesey.
If you are female aged 16 to 65 and would like to help, then please contact Linda White on (01954 203385)

The History Society have recently enjoyed two very interesting meetings. The first on 15th October was a talk on "Water management on the Medieval Fen Edge" and the speaker Sue Oosthuizen encouraged members to join in with questions and discussion and the result was a very stimulating meeting. Carol Shaw, chairman of the History Society thanked Sue for her hard work
November 19th saw Mike Petty , well known for his articles in the Cambridge Evening News, keeping members on the edges of their seats with his stories in his talk "Ghosts and Witches of Cambridgeshire". Carol Shaw thanked him for an interesting evening and not many members walked home alone without a few glances over their shoulders!

The AGM was held on 10th December and the speaker was Dr Colin Lattimore who spoke about "English Cameo Glass" He first showed slides of the famous Portland Vase made by the Romans during the first century AD depicting scenes from the myth of Peleus and Thetis. In the 19th century this was smashed by a madman but by now the skill of making cameo glass had spread across Europe so the vase was made whole again. A lot of skilled English glassmakers made these cameo vases in the 19th century of which few now remain in the UK most of them having been taken to the USA.
Chairman Carole Shaw, thanked Dr Lattimore for his talk and then spoke of the very successful year the society has had, with membership increasing to 64,.She paid tribute to the secretary Valerie Haynes who has tracked down and booked such an interesting variety of speakers and subjects. The programme planned for 2003 looks every bit as interesting as the one for 2002, and anyone who wants to find out more can telephone 01954 231238 for details,. Meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month and start at 7.30pm.

Swavesey Pre-School

We have a tremendous group of parents who formed our Committee in September, and as an initiation they were required to organise our Christmas Bazaar which was held on the 23rd November. There is nothing like a challenge to get folk working as a team, and the team rose to this particular challenge brilliantly. It was a marvellous Bazaar, with a sparkly Santas Grotto and loads of games to play, several cast members of Aladdin parading in full costume and, most importantly, a lot of support from Swavesey families. We are grateful too for the support of the local businesses, who helped us to raise £400 in our Grand Draw.

Altogether our profit was almost £1,000 and it is very easy to find ways to spend this on the 35 children we have in Preschool at the moment. Firstly, we will be purchasing a whole new range of transport vehicles and we have to buy the best quality die cast vehicles or they won't stand up to the amount of play they receive. We will be getting tractors, cranes, car transporters, emergency vehicles, lorries, buses, taxis and lots of cars. I don't suppose anyone in the village has a personal contact in Matchbox???..

We also passed our Ofsted Care Inspection in September with flying colours, so well done to the staff and children. The Inspector commented that we have "a lovely Preschool". We celebrated the end of 2002 with our Christmas Party. The children performed a sing-along version of the nativity and they were marvellous and sang so well. We were all proud of them.

Three of our staff, Wendy Marsh, Sue Bishop and Mandy Ambrose have just passed their Introduction to Preschool Practice course, which is a six month training scheme so well done to them. And Linda Pallister and Carol Ambrose have just completed the first module of their Diploma in Preschool Practice course so well done to them too.

Swavesey Preschool wishes everyone a very happy 2003, and to give us something to look forward to, our Committee is arranging a Pampering Night for us ladies in late February, so watch out for the posters, and a Quiz and Disco night in April. We will be holding our Open Morning in May for prospective parents. If you would like to register your child for Preschool or would like to visit us, please phone our Supervisor Cathy Dennis on 203039, or 07931 366826. Thank you.

Would anyone interested in trying out this sort of dancing (not to be confused with Highland dancing - arms in the air & swords etc) please give Hazel or Alan a ring on 01954 200412.
It's great fun as well as quite strenuous exercise & you have to use your brain too.
No special gear needed - only soft flat shoes